Unless there are any last minute changes, it has already been reported that the AEW-WBD deal could be announced as soon as next week, and Meltzer believes that when everything is finalized, it will be a big victory for the company and Khan.

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Meltzer stated that it effectively guarantees AEW will be profitable for at least the next three years, but doing a shorter-term deal across three years could actually be beneficial for AEW past the end of their current package. He explained that most sports brands have been locked into longer-term deals with networks, but given that deals tend to escalate when they get renewed, it could be beneficial, as AEW would in theory get more money more often. However, Meltzer did note that AEW’s popularity among fans dropping could mean that it is a risk having a short-term deal, so ratings and attendance would have to increase in order to guarantee success.

Overall, the deal is reportedly done and ready to be announced. When that announcement happens remains to be seen, but Meltzer believes any major inclusions or changes won’t be reported on until the announcement, such as the MAX pay-per-view package, what TruTV will carry, and if there is any inclusion of ROH in the deal. But one thing looks certain, AEW is here to stay, and they are going to have a lot of money to play with over the next three or, if everything goes according to plan, four years.

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